News Archive

NEWS ARCHIVE

On Thursday morning, the Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force arrested a suspect who arrived on the Eastbound Amtrak Train for outstanding warrants.

Investigators received a tip that 38-year-old Jason Alan Folland of Tuscon, Arizona, would be traveling from Oregon to St. Cloud. Investigators learned that Folland was wanted for a driving offense and a 2009 felony theft warrant and were told that he may be in possession of controlled substances.

Investigators met the train at 5:15 a.m. and observed Folland get off the train with a large black rolling duffle bag. Folland was taken to the Benton County Jail for his warrants. His bag was inventoried and it was discovered that he was carrying 33 pounds of marijuana which is valued at $130,000.

Folland is expected to be charged with 3rd degree possession of a controlled substance.

Two people from Alabama have been arrested in St. Cloud for murder charges.

According to the police report, the suspect, 39-year-old Laron Lamont Lukes had an arrest warrant out for an incident that occurred in Hunstville, Alabama. Lukes is accused of being the shooter in a drive by type shooting, where he fired several shots at a victim on November 12th, 2012.

The driver of that vehicle was identified as 27-year-old Eleana Marie Ghant and the two were believed to have fled to Ghant’s mother’s apartment in St. Cloud. Ghant also had outstanding warrants for driving offenses in Benton County and an outstanding warrant for 1st degree criminal damage to property in Stearns County. The U.S. Marshals along with the Violent Offenders Task Force conducted surveillance on the apartment over the course of several days.

On Wednesday, January 23rd, a search warrant was drafted and executed at the apartment using the St. Cloud Police Department Tactical Response Team. Both Ghant and Lukes were taken into custody without incident and are being held at the Stearns County Jail for their warrants.

The Central Minnesota Violent Offenders Task Force is comprised of officers from Sartell, Little Falls and St. Cloud Police Departments along with deputies from Stearns, Benton, Todd, Morrison and Sherburne counties.

The Statewide Independent Living Council promotes independent living, leadership, empowerment, independence and productivity of persons with disabilities, and promotes the integration and full inclusion of persons with disabilities into American society.

Rudolph will be replacing Roberta Cich and will stay on the council until 2016.

St. Cloud Police have announced they will increase police enforcement in downtown St. Cloud this weekend due to an event called “St. Cloud: The Takeover.”

The extra enforcement will be on Friday and Saturday night. St. Cloud Police Chief, Blair Anderson says the department will have a zero tolerance mindset when it comes to dealing with criminal behavior this weekend in the area. He also said that people coming to St. Cloud to be uncivil or to commit crimes are “not welcome and will be dealt with swiftly.”

According to the St. Cloud Police,the promoters of the event are advertising bus transportation from the Twin Cities to St. Cloud for the event.

The National Weather service has issued a wind chill advisory from 6:00 p.m. Wednesday to 9:00 a.m. Thursday. The winds will be coming from the Northeast and will drop temperatures back down to around 0.

The temperatures will drop to -20 after midnight Thursday morning, and any stirring of wind will drop the temperatures down to -30 and could cause frostbite to exposed skin in 20 minutes.

According to SCSU Meteorology Professor Bob Weisman, we will likely repeat the cycle again on Thursday night and Friday.

Employers from sectors such as business, science, engineering, health, human services, education, communications and more will be in attendance. According to the SCSU communications department, employers are offering part-time and summer employment opportunities for first and second-year students.

Students attending should dress professionally and bring a resume. The fair is free and no registration is required.

The food packaging will take place at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. People who wish to volunteer their time on Saturday must sign up online. Sign-up shifts are generally about two hours long.

Three to four people are needed on Friday at 6 p.m. to help set up for Saturday.

Police are investigating an attempted robbery that happened on St. Cloud’s south side on Saturday morning. St. Cloud Police were called to the 600 block of 7th Avenue South at about 2 a.m. after a complaint of a robbery in progress.

According to the police report, three men in their early 20s were walking in the alleyway and were confronted by two male suspects. One of the suspects displayed a handgun and told the victims he wanted their belongings. During the confrontation, the suspected allegedly fired his gun. The gunshot did not injure any of the victims. However, one of the victims received minor injuries after being pushed to the ground and assaulted.

Police believe that the suspects left in a car and that the incident was random. The descriptions of the suspects have not been released due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the St. Cloud Police at 251-1200.

A St. Cloud man needed stiches after being punched early Sunday morning in front of the Red Carpet Nightclub.

Police say the 24-year-old man was punched in the head by 23-year-old Matthew Robert Blackmore of Albany. Police arrested Blackmore a couple blocks away from the scene. He was taken to the Stearns County Jail and is expected to be charged with 3rd degree assault.

Investigation found Blackmore’s ex-girlfriend was on a date that night with the victim. However, police say they don’t think the victim and suspect had met before.

Absentee voting for the February 12th Special Election begins today [Friday].

This Special Election will fill the vacant 14A House of Representative seat. District 14A consist of St. Augusta and St. Joseph Township. It also includes St. Cloud City Ward 1, Precinct 4,6 and 7. St. Cloud City Ward 3, Precinct 1,2, and 3 and St. Cloud City Ward 4, Precinct 1,4,5,6, and 7. Lastly, it includes Waite Park City Precinct 1-3.

In order to vote by absentee ballot, you must fulfill one of the following reasons for needing an absentee ballot:

1. Absence from precinct on election day.

2.Illness or disability.

3. Religious discipline or observance of religious holiday.

4. Service as an election judge in another precinct.

5. Eligible emergency declared by the governor or quarantine declared by federal or state government.

Ever want to go horseback riding at Rockville County Park or have a controlled hunt in a County Park? Stearns County is proposing changes to its Parks and Trails ordinance that will allow you to do just that.

A public meeting will be held on the ordinance changes on Tuesday, January 22 at 10:05 a.m. at the County Board Room of the Administration center in downtown St. Cloud.

To give input on the proposed ordinance changes, you can appear before the County Board during the January 22nd public hearing or you can email parks.information@co.stearns.mn.us, or by calling 320-654-4726.

The Star Tribune reports Meshbesher noted in a letter to the judge that DNA and toxicology lab work in the case won't be complete until early spring. He also said that the defense must gather and review "a significant volume" of information and evidence that prosecutors plan to introduce in the case.

Smith faces two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and 17-year-old Nick Brady. Smith was released from custody in December after posting bond.